Early 20th century rhetoric dramatically determined by 2 wars. After WWI rhetoric became obsessed with communication because people were convinced that the war was the result of failure of communication –everyone was completely confused by others’ intentions.
Then came Hitler and Mussolini and rhetoric became focused on ethics – an investigation of lies and deceit. Burke Attitudes Towards History is good book.
Rhetoric become again a valuable interdisciplinary theory of language and meaning
Language and meaning, ethics and ideology, argument and knowledge recur and overlap at each stage of development in 20th century
University of Chicago – 1950’s and 60’s neo-Aristotelian movement (Weaver, McKeon, Booth, Kinneavy) –rhetoric is true basis of the discipline for pedagogy and research
60’s and 70’s self-expression appears and chief alternative to current-traditional model. Expressivism as response to political events (Vietnam) and increase in admissions to college – required new approaches to basic writing – “authentic voice” as alternative to impersonal and oppressive establishment
1970’s process mode – psychological approach reminiscent of communication theory movement –clear affinities with 5 canons
“academic discourse theory” – genres of academic writing and conventions of address
Themes:
all language is metaphorical
'truth' in discourse is not transferred directly from reality but is instead constructed
the interpretation of such 'truth' must account for the constraints of context
context includes not only social characteristics such as politics and economics, but also such psychological variables as personality, race, and gender
